Unfortunately the Watchtower Publishing company has warped the minds of JWs so much that they carry this hatred any anything religious with them into their ex-JW lives ... the Watchtower continues to control ex-JWs, even though they believe that they are free.
The Catholic Church teaches that we deserve to live ... and that the stain of sin is paid by the death of Christ, which is very "scriptural." Most Evangelical teach similarly, that it is not what we do, but only what Christ did that counts. All we need to do is have faith in Jesus ... and we are free. Faith as tiny as a "mustard seed" is more than enough for God. I cannot fathom the problem. Hell is a condition where one chooses to be separate from God ... the "fires" are a metaphor for a choice that is unnatural and self-destructive.
Predestination was invented by John Calvin, one of the fathers of the 16th century Reformation that rebelled against a misguided and at times corrupt Church. Unfortunately, Calvin's teachings, like the Watchtower's, did not act to improve or reform, but rather added more confusion and hatred, leading to religious wars ... and led to more rebellion by more and more movements.
After a few years of being an ex-JW, I became somewhat of a Christian agnostic, rejecting religions, and not sure about God ... but I held to basic acceptance of the teachings of Christ ... yet I was moving farther from faith. Eventually, I was able to shed the warped thinking of Watchtower-ism, and chose to have faith and live free Jesus Christ. I did reconcile with the Catholic Church because that is where my roots are, and because of her basic good teachings. However, I make no excuses for her historic wrongs ... or the sins of some of her leaders. However, I do not hold my faith hostage for the sins of past generations ... they lived as they thought best ... they screwed up as humans do ... and I have to live as I best think, and hope that I and my generation will not be judged by my children and grand children's generations.
While the above views and attitudes by various posters is understandable ... I feel that the anger and warped thinking resulting from Watchtower false teaching allows many ex-JWs to live in a vacuum, and not grow and discover that Christianity is a wonderful faith once one chooses freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1) as St. Paul puts it ... and to let go, forgive, and not feel this need to keep condemning religion ... for many billions who have faith are good and caring people and were never part of the "shit" created by many religious movements ... and do not deserve harsh judgment.
You all deserve to live and not die ... and honest Christians do not judge you. Live free ... if that means faith in Christ, then great. If it mean atheism or agnosticism ... so be it ... I just hope that you all can let go of the anger and move forward in a positive direction. - Jim